Six Australian native trees have been poisoned on public land along one of Queensland’s most expensive and exclusive beachside streets.<\/p>\n
The Noosa Council says the “very intentional and calculated act” occurred along a 55-metre stretch of dunes at Sunshine Beach<\/p>\n
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The trees had holes drilled into their trunks, then poison poured in to kill them. (Supplied: Noosa Council)<\/p>\n
The suburb has developed a high profile with properties sold for tens of millions of dollars in recent years, including to TV presenter Karl Stefanovic, former prime minister Kevin Rudd and mining magnate Gina Rinehart.<\/p>\n
The six mature trees included a coast banksia, beach bird’s eye and a tuckeroo, each critical for ensuring the sand dunes remain stable and for protecting wildlife.<\/p>\n
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Noosa Council erects signs where trees have been illegally cleared or poisoned until the vegetation regrows, in an effort to discourage further incidents. (Supplied: Noosa Council)<\/p>\n
‘Boreholes and poison’<\/p>\n
Six native Australian trees have been poisoned along the Sunshine Beach dunes. (Supplied: Noosa Council)<\/p>\n
Noosa Council environment services manager Richard MacGillivray said he was “extremely disturbed” by the attack, particularly given the steepness of the area and the effort required.<\/p>\n
“There’s no two ways about it, this is damage to something that our community values the most, and that is the natural environment,” he said.<\/p>\n
“What’s most disappointing is that people would go to this level of effort.<\/p>\n
“You can see that there’s been boreholes drilled and chemicals applied to target particular native species in our forest.”<\/p>\n
Mr MacGillivray said he understood that some would assume the poisoning was done to improve someone’s views, but investigators would investigate the matter thoroughly.<\/p>\n
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The Noosa Council alerts the community to tree poisonings in their area. (ABC News: Owen Jacques)<\/p>\n
Several of the trees have already begun dying.<\/p>\n
Those responsible could face a maximum fine of more than $140,000 if prosecuted.<\/p>\n
As a policy, the council erects large signs where bushland or trees have been illegally cleared or killed, to minimise the incentive for others to do the same.<\/p>\n
Expensive and exclusive<\/p>\n
The prices of houses in Sunshine Beach are among the highest in the state, with a median of $2.39 million.<\/p>\n
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Sunshine Beach is home to some of the most expensive and exclusive properties in Queensland, with some selling for more than $20 million. (Supplied: Noosa Council)<\/p>\n
It has a population of less than 3,000, with a small number of streets where homes are separated from the sand by a narrow sliver of bushland.<\/p>\n
A double block near The Esplanade was sold to BV Investments, a subsidiary of Ms Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting, in 2022 for $21.5 million.<\/p>\n
In the early months of 2020, former prime minister Kevin Rudd and his wife, Th\u00e9r\u00e8se Rein, purchased a home on a nearby street for $17 million, just months after Mr Stefanovic bought a property on the same street for $3.6 million.<\/p>\n
‘Very selfish reason’<\/p>\n
Maria Suarez is the environment councillor in the neighbouring Sunshine Coast shire, which has had multiple tree poisonings in the past two years.<\/p>\n
She said in each of those investigations, it was motivated by “personal gain”.<\/p>\n
“It’s absolutely personal gain, either financial or for their lifestyle, because they just couldn’t be bothered looking through a tree to get their ocean views, or mountain views or whatever it is.”<\/p>\n
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The trees were poisoned along a 55m stretch of dunes on The Esplanade at Sunshine Beach. (ABC News: Owen Jacques)<\/p>\n
She said with beachside trees slowing or preventing erosion and helping to cool areas, the vandalism could make life worse for those living nearby.<\/p>\n